It would have allowed MMJ in pill, oil or liquid form. The number of authorized centers dispensing the medicine would have been limited to one per congressional district.

The legislation died after legalization advocates failed to muster enough votes to end a filibuster blocking the measure.

State Sen. Tommy Garrett, who pushed the bill, estimated a petition drive would have cost $700,000 to $1 million.

“It required so darn much money to get something on the ballot,” he told the newspaper.

Garrett added that any legalization bill next year will be an uphill struggle. Nine senators who support legalization must depart the legislature because of term limits and several others face re-election. Only one opponent must leave.

If only the medical cannabis field had provided Big Data and evidence based outcomes establishing the importance of medical cannabis… instead they went for the quick buck and forgot about the “medical” part.